BSc Nursing Syllabus 2024: Are you considering pursuing a BSc Nursing degree in 2024? If so, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the detailed BSc Nursing syllabus to understand what you’ll be learning throughout the 4-year program. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the BSc Nursing syllabus for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th years, provide information on the entrance exam syllabus, and share where you can download PDFs of the full curriculum. Let’s get started!
What is BSc Nursing?
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSc Nursing) is a 4-year undergraduate degree program that aims to prepare students to become qualified and competent nurses. The program equips students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitude to provide high-quality patient care in various healthcare settings.
The BSc Nursing syllabus is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the biological, physical, and behavioral sciences, as well as develop their clinical skills through extensive practical training. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to register as professional nurses with the Indian Nursing Council (INC).
Why Choose BSc Nursing?
Nursing is a noble and rewarding profession that offers numerous benefits. Here are some reasons why you should consider pursuing a BSc Nursing degree:
- High Demand: There is a growing demand for qualified nurses in India and abroad due to the increasing healthcare needs of the population. BSc Nursing graduates have excellent job prospects in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities.
- Diverse Career Options: Nursing offers a wide range of career paths to choose from. Apart from working as a clinical nurse, you can specialize in areas like pediatrics, geriatrics, oncology, critical care, or psychiatry. You can also pursue higher education to become a nurse educator, researcher, or administrator.
- Competitive Salary: Nurses are among the highest-paid professionals in the healthcare industry. The salary of a BSc Nursing graduate depends on factors like experience, specialization, and location, but it is generally quite competitive.
- Opportunity to Make a Difference: As a nurse, you have the unique opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives. You can provide compassionate care, support, and comfort to patients during their most vulnerable times and help them achieve optimal health outcomes.
- Personal and Professional Growth: Nursing is a challenging but fulfilling profession that allows you to continuously learn and grow. You’ll develop important skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork, which are valuable in both personal and professional life.
BSc Nursing Syllabus Overview
The BSc Nursing syllabus is divided into four years, with each year focusing on different aspects of nursing theory and practice. Here’s an overview of the key subjects covered in each year:
1st Year Syllabus
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Nutrition and Biochemistry
- Nursing Foundations
- Psychology
- Microbiology
- English
- Introduction to Computers
2nd Year Syllabus
- Medical Surgical Nursing I
- Pharmacology
- Pathology and Genetics
- Community Health Nursing I
- Sociology
- Communication and Educational Technology
3rd Year Syllabus
- Medical Surgical Nursing II
- Child Health Nursing
- Mental Health Nursing
- Midwifery and Obstetrical Nursing
- Nursing Research and Statistics
4th Year Syllabus
- Community Health Nursing II
- Management of Nursing Services and Education
- Nursing Research (Project)
- Midwifery and Obstetrical Nursing (Internship)
In addition to the core nursing subjects, the BSc Nursing curriculum also includes courses in English, computers, sociology, psychology, and other allied subjects to provide a well-rounded education.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the detailed syllabus for each year.
Detailed BSc Nursing Syllabus
First Year Syllabus
The first year of the BSc Nursing program focuses on building a strong foundation in the basic sciences and introducing students to the fundamentals of nursing practice. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the subjects covered in the first year:
Anatomy
- Introduction to anatomical terms and organization of the human body
- General histology
- Gross anatomy and histology of major organ systems:
- Cardiovascular system
- Respiratory system
- Digestive system
- Urinary system
- Reproductive system
- Endocrine system
- Musculoskeletal system
- Nervous system
- Integumentary system
- Practical: Dissection and study of human cadaver, microscopic slides, models, and charts
Physiology
- General physiology
- Cell physiology
- Blood and body fluids
- Cardiovascular system
- Respiratory system
- Digestive system
- Renal physiology
- Endocrine physiology
- Reproductive physiology
- Nervous system
- Special senses
- Practical: Experiments on human subjects and laboratory animals
Nutrition and Biochemistry
Nutrition:
- Basic concepts of nutrition
- Classification of foods
- Nutritional assessment
- Nutrition across the life cycle
- Therapeutic diets
- Nutritional disorders
Biochemistry:
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins
- Lipids
- Enzymes
- Vitamins and minerals
- Metabolism
- Practical: Food preparation, meal planning, biochemical tests
Nursing Foundations
- Concept of health and illness
- History and trends in nursing
- Ethical and legal aspects of nursing
- Nursing process
- Documentation and reporting
- Vital signs
- Health assessment
- Infection control
- Personal hygiene
- Safety and comfort measures
- Medication administration
- Practical: Demonstration and practice of nursing procedures in the lab
Psychology
- Introduction to psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Infancy and childhood
- Adolescence
- Adulthood
- Old age
- Motivation and emotion
- Personality
- Learning and memory
- Stress and coping
- Psychological assessment
Microbiology
- Introduction to microbiology
- Classification and morphology of microorganisms
- Growth and nutrition of microbes
- Control of microorganisms
- Immunology
- Bacteriology
- Virology
- Parasitology
- Mycology
- Practical: Staining techniques, culture media preparation, identification of microorganisms
English
- Grammar and composition
- Comprehension
- Oral communication
- Writing skills
- Medical terminology
Introduction to Computers
- Introduction to computers
- Hardware and software
- Operating systems
- MS Office
- Internet and email
- Computer applications in nursing
- Practical: Hands-on training in computer lab
Second Year Syllabus
In the second year, students begin to study core nursing subjects and learn about the management of various medical and surgical conditions. Here’s a detailed overview of the second year syllabus:
Medical Surgical Nursing I
- Introduction to medical surgical nursing
- Nursing process in medical surgical nursing
- Nutritional disorders
- Fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base imbalances
- Shock and hemorrhage
- Pre and postoperative care
- Nursing management of patients with:
- Respiratory disorders
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Hepatobiliary disorders
- Endocrine disorders
- Renal and urinary tract disorders
- Neurological disorders
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Immunological disorders
- Oncological disorders
- Gerontological nursing
- Practical: Clinical posting in medical and surgical wards
Pharmacology
- General pharmacology principles
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacodynamics
- Chemotherapy of microbial and parasitic infections
- Chemotherapy of neoplastic diseases
- Drugs acting on:
- Autonomic nervous system
- Cardiovascular system
- Respiratory system
- Digestive system
- Renal system
- Endocrine system
- Practical: Calculation of drug dosages, drug administration techniques
Pathology and Genetics
Pathology:
- Introduction to pathology
- Cell injury and adaptation
- Inflammation and repair
- Hemodynamic disorders
- Neoplasia
- Pathology of major organ systems
Genetics:
- Introduction to genetics
- Chromosomes and cell division
- Mendelian inheritance
- Genetic disorders
- Genetic counseling
- Practical: Histopathology and cytology slides, genetic problems
Community Health Nursing I
- Introduction to community health nursing
- Concepts of health and illness
- Determinants of health
- Levels of prevention
- Primary health care
- Epidemiology
- Communicable and non-communicable diseases
- National health programs
- Maternal and child health
- Practical: Field visits to community health centers, clinics, and schools
Sociology
- Introduction to sociology
- Individual and society
- Family and marriage
- Social stratification
- Culture and socialization
- Social control
- Social problems
- Type of communities in India
- Practical: Case studies, role plays, and group discussions
Communication and Educational Technology
- Communication process
- Interpersonal communication
- Group dynamics
- Guidance and counseling
- Principles of teaching and learning
- Methods of teaching
- Audio-visual aids
- Information, education, and communication (IEC)
- Practical: Micro-teaching sessions, preparation of teaching aids
Third Year Syllabus
The third year of the BSc Nursing program focuses on specialized areas of nursing such as child health, mental health, and midwifery. Students also learn about nursing research and statistics. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the third year syllabus:
Medical Surgical Nursing II
- Oncology nursing
- Critical care nursing
- Emergency and disaster nursing
- Nursing management of patients with:
- Burns
- Skin disorders
- Eye and ENT disorders
- Reproductive disorders
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- HIV/AIDS
- Practical: Clinical posting in specialty units like ICU, burns ward, and oncology unit
Child Health Nursing
- Introduction to child health nursing
- Growth and development of children
- Nutritional needs of children
- Preventive pediatrics
- Nursing management of children with:
- Respiratory disorders
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Neurological disorders
- Hematological disorders
- Endocrine disorders
- Orthopedic disorders
- Communicable diseases
- Practical: Clinical posting in pediatric ward and well-baby clinic
Mental Health Nursing
- Introduction to mental health nursing
- Assessment of mental health status
- Therapeutic communication
- Stress and adaptation
- Mood disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Substance abuse disorders
- Psychiatric emergencies
- Therapeutic modalities
- Practical: Clinical posting in psychiatric ward and de-addiction center
Midwifery and Obstetrical Nursing
- Introduction to midwifery
- Anatomy and physiology of female reproductive system
- Pregnancy
- Labor
- Puerperium
- Normal newborn
- High-risk pregnancy
- Complications of pregnancy and childbirth
- Obstetric operations
- Contraception and family planning
- Practical: Clinical posting in antenatal clinic, labor room, and postnatal ward
Nursing Research and Statistics
Nursing Research:
- Introduction to research
- Research process
- Research design
- Data collection methods
- Sampling techniques
- Ethical considerations in research
Statistics:
- Introduction to statistics
- Types of data
- Measures of central tendency and dispersion
- Probability and sampling distributions
- Hypothesis testing
- Correlation and regression
- Practical: Critiquing research articles, developing research proposals
Fourth Year Syllabus
The fourth and final year of the BSc Nursing program aims to prepare students for leadership roles and independent nursing practice. Here’s a detailed overview of the fourth year syllabus:
Community Health Nursing II
- Epidemiology
- Health education
- School health services
- Occupational health nursing
- Geriatric nursing
- Disaster nursing
- Community mental health
- Information, education, and communication (IEC) in community health
- National health programs
- Practical: Clinical posting in community health centers, schools, and factories
Management of Nursing Services and Education
- Introduction to management
- Management process
- Organizational behavior
- Human resource management
- Financial management
- Material management
- Quality assurance
- Accreditation and licensing
- Nursing education programs
- Curriculum development
- Teaching methods and media
- Evaluation methods
- Practical: Observation visits to nursing colleges and hospitals
Nursing Research (Project)
- Selection of research topic
- Literature review
- Research methodology
- Data collection and analysis
- Research report writing
- Presentation of findings
Midwifery and Obstetrical Nursing (Internship)
- Antenatal care
- Intranatal care
- Postnatal care
- Newborn care
- Family planning services
- Practical: Clinical posting in hospitals and community settings
BSc Nursing Entrance Exam Syllabus
To secure admission into a BSc Nursing program in India, candidates have to appear for an entrance exam. The most common exam is the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Some nursing colleges may also have their own entrance exams.
The entrance exam syllabus for BSc Nursing typically covers subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany and Zoology), and English. Here’s a detailed overview of the NEET-UG syllabus:
Physics
- Physical world and measurement
- Kinematics
- Laws of motion
- Work, energy, and power
- Motion of system of particles and rigid body
- Gravitation
- Properties of bulk matter
- Thermodynamics
- Behavior of perfect gas and kinetic theory
- Oscillations and waves
- Electrostatics
- Current electricity
- Magnetic effects of current and magnetism
- Electromagnetic induction and alternating currents
- Electromagnetic waves
- Optics
- Dual nature of matter and radiation
- Atoms and nuclei
- Electronic devices
- Communication systems
Chemistry
- Some basic concepts of chemistry
- Structure of atom
- Classification of elements and periodicity in properties
- Chemical bonding and molecular structure
- States of matter
- Thermodynamics
- Equilibrium
- Redox reactions
- Hydrogen
- s-Block elements (Alkali and alkaline earth metals)
- Some p-Block elements
- Organic chemistry: Some basic principles and techniques
- Hydrocarbons
- Environmental chemistry
Biology (Botany and Zoology)
Botany:
- Diversity in living world
- Structural organization in plants
- Cell structure and function
- Plant physiology
- Mineral nutrition
- Photosynthesis
- Respiration
- Plant growth and development
- Digestion and absorption
- Breathing and exchange of gases
- Body fluids and circulation
- Excretory products and their elimination
- Locomotion and movement
- Neural control and coordination
- Chemical coordination and integration
Zoology:
- Animal kingdom
- Structural organization in animals
- Biomolecules
- Digestion and absorption
- Breathing and exchange of gases
- Body fluids and circulation
- Excretory products and their elimination
- Locomotion and movement
- Neural control and coordination
- Chemical coordination and integration
- Reproduction
- Human reproduction
- Reproductive health
- Principles of inheritance and variation
- Molecular basis of inheritance
- Evolution
- Human health and disease
- Strategies for enhancement in food production
- Microbes in human welfare
- Biotechnology and its applications
- Organisms and population
- Ecosystem
- Biodiversity and conservation
- Environmental issues
To excel in the entrance exam, aspirants should thoroughly study the NCERT textbooks of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology from classes 11 and 12. Solving previous years’ question papers and taking mock tests can also help in understanding the exam pattern and improving time management skills.
Conclusion
The BSc Nursing syllabus is comprehensive and covers a wide range of subjects related to nursing theory and practice. By following the syllabus diligently and putting in the required effort, students can acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to become competent and compassionate nurses.
Aspiring nursing students should also familiarize themselves with the entrance exam syllabus and prepare well to secure admission into a reputed nursing college. With dedication and hard work, a career in nursing can be both personally and professionally fulfilling.
We hope this detailed guide to the BSc Nursing syllabus has been